Personal transportation vehicle with pivoting seat and cargo bay

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to a utility vehicle having a pivotable seat connected by a hinge to a fixed platform. The pivotable seat configured to pivot between a first position and a second position defining a standard seat location and a first wall of a cargo bay, respectively. A seatback is configured to form a second wall of a cargo bay when the pivotable seat is in the second position. First and second opposing side walls are positioned on either side of the pivotable seat. The side walls are configured to form barriers at either side of the cargo bay when the pivotable seat is in the second position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED INFORMATION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/872,678, filed Jan. 16, 2018, the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to a personal transportationvehicle and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a personaltransportation vehicle with a pivoting seat configured to form a wallfor a cargo bay.

BACKGROUND

Personal transport vehicles such as golf carts, all-terrain vehicles,utility vehicles or the like can include seating areas and separatecargo areas. Some existing vehicles have various shortcomings relativeto certain applications. Accordingly, there remains a need for furthercontributions in this area of technology.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique pivoting seatarrangement for a personal transportation vehicle. Other embodimentsinclude apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, andcombinations for pivoting a seat to form a wall for a cargo bay. Furtherembodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of thepresent application shall become apparent from the description andfigures provided herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal utility vehicle having amovable seat configured to convert to a cargo bay according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the personalutility vehicle of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of a portion of the personal utilityvehicle of FIG. 1 with the seat in a second position to form a wall of acargo bay;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of a portion of the personal utilityvehicle of FIG. 3 including a movable portion of a platform of the cargobay;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a positioning tool;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the positioning tool of FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are partial perspective views of the personal utilityvehicle with a person using the positioning tool to maneuver andlock/unlock the seat to a support rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modificationsin the described embodiments, and any further applications of theprinciples of the invention as described herein are contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 , perspective views of a personal utilityvehicle or cart 10 are illustrated therein. The utility vehicle 10 caninclude a front seat 12 and rear seat 14 to carry one or more passengersas is customary. The utility cart 10 includes a chassis 15 with steeringmeans 16, a motive source 18 such as a gas or electric motor andtypically three or more wheels 19 capable of traversing over paved orunpaved terrain. The utility vehicle 10 may include a rear support floor20 for holding items to be transported or for a foot rest or the like. Asupport rack or rail 22 may extend from the rear support floor 20 andmay include means 23 for pivoting or otherwise permit movement of thesupport rail 22 relative to the rear support floor 20. The rear seat 14can include a seat back 30 and a seat bottom 32 constructed withopposing side restraint walls or rails 24, 26 positioned at either sidethereof. The first and second side restraint walls or rails 24, 26 areconfigured to prevent passengers from unintentionally moving orotherwise falling out of the side of the utility vehicle 10 when theutility vehicle 10 is moving around corners or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , a perspective view of a portion of the utilitycart 10 is illustrated. A seat bottom 32 may include a first side 40that includes a cushion 42 or other type of material for comfortableseating of a passenger during operation of the vehicle 10. The seatbottom 32 can include a second side 44 that can be formed from an impactresistance material such as plastic, metal or a composite material andthe like. The seat bottom 32 is connected via a hinge 46 to a platform48 positioned below the seat bottom 32 when the seat bottom 32 is in afirst or conventional position. The seat bottom 32 may be pivoted aboutthe hinge 46 when moved to an upright position away from the platform 48in a second position. A cargo bay 62 is formed between the seat bottom32 and the seat back 30 when the seat is moved to the second position.The hinge 46 can extend between a first end 50 and a second end 52 ofthe seat bottom 32 along the length of the platform 48. In thisconfiguration, the cargo bay 62 is bound on one side of the seat bottom32 and on the other side by the seat back 30. The cargo bay 62 isfurther bound at either end 50, 52 by the first side restraint wall 24and the second side restraint wall 26.

In some forms, the first and second side restraint walls 24, 26 areconfigured to receive a side panel 80 positioned between an arm restportion 70 and the platform 48. The panels 80 may substantially form asolid wall to prevent items from inadvertently being displaced from thecargo bay 62 along the sides thereof. In some embodiments, the panels 80may include two or more sub-panels such as sub-panels 82, 84 that can beconnected together by one or more connectors 86. In one form, theconnectors 86 can be formed from a tongue 88 and groove 90 configurationextending from adjacent sub-panels 82, 84. The connectors 86 areoperable to prevent relative movement between the sub-panels 82, 84. Oneor more securing brackets 100 may connect and removably hold the panels80 to the side rails 24, 26.

In the exemplary embodiment, a positioning tool 110 may be utilized tohold the rear seat 32 in the second position. The positioning tool 110includes a first connector 112 and a second connector 114 at oppositeends for connecting to the rear support rail 22 and a portion of theseat bottom 32 to hold the seat bottom 32 at a desired location awayfrom the platform 48. In one form a seat connector bar 120 may becoupled to the seat bottom 32 to provide means for receiving the secondconnector 114 of the positioning tool 110. In one form the seat bottom32 may be located in a substantially vertical position in the secondposition. In other forms the seat bottom 32 may be held in position thatis greater than a 90° angle and in other embodiments the seat bottom 32may be held in a position that is less than vertical or 90° relative tothe platform 48. It should be understood that other means to hold therear seat 32 in the second position are contemplated herein. By way ofexample and not limitation, locking pins, gears, propping bars, etc. maybe utilized in alternate embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , another view of a portion of the utilityvehicle 10 is illustrated wherein the platform 48 of the cargo bay 62includes a movable portion 130 bounded by an outer fixed portion 132positioned around the movable portion 130. When the seat bottom 32 ispositioned in the second position, a release handle 140 coupled to themovable portion 130 can be accessed and pulled upward so as to pivot themovable portion 130 about one or more platform hinges 142. The movableportion 130 may pivot relative to the fixed portion 132 to open andpermit access to a lower cargo region (not shown), In this manneradditional storage is accessible in the utility vehicle 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 , a perspective view of the positioningtool 110 and a cross-section side view of the positioning tool 110 areillustrated. The positioning tool 110 can include an elongate rod 200extending between a first end 202 and a second end 204. The elongate rod200 can be formed from various cross-sectional shapes including the onedepicted which has a square or rectangular cross-section, however otherforms may include other shapes to form the elongate rod 200. Also, whilethe exemplary embodiment illustrates a substantially straight rod 200,some embodiments may require a rod 200 with one or more bends or curvesand the like.

A first connector 112 extends from the first end 202 and a secondconnector 114 extends from the second end 204. The first connector 112includes a first extension arm 206 extending generally at a 90° orgreater angle from the rod 200 as illustrated. The first extension arm206 includes an inner engagement surface 208 on the inner side thereof.A second extension arm 210 extends generally at a 90° or greater anglefrom the elongate rod 200 in similar fashion to the first extension arm206. The second extension arm 210 includes an inner engagement surface212 on the inner side thereof. The first and second extension arms 206,210 of the first connector 112 can include a first lip 214 and a secondlip 216, respectively, that only extends inward at a distal end of theextension arms 206, 210. The protruding lips 214, 216 provide a clamp orpress fit connection about the support rail 22 (not shown). The firstconnector 112 includes a top wall 218 that extends between the first andsecond arms 206, 210. A handle 220 may extend from the top wall 218 ofthe first connector 112. The handle 220 may include a first portion 222spaced apart from the top wall 218 with an angled transition portion 223extending from the first portion to a second portion 224 that extendssubstantially parallel along a partial length of the elongate rod 200.The handle 220 is configured to provide a hand grip to permit one tohold and maneuver the positioning tool 110 while connecting ordisconnecting the positioning tool 110 to the vehicle 10. The first andsecond extension arms 206 and 210 are configured to guide the firstconnector 112 over a top portion of the support rail 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2 )and can clamp around a bottom portion of the support rail 22 with thefirst and second lips 214, 216. The protruding lips 214, 216 prevent aninadvertent removal of the positioning tool 110 from the support rail 22due to the interference fit of the lips 214, 216 with the rail 22.

The second connector 114 includes a top wall 230 extending from thesecond end 204 of the elongate rod 200. A first arm 232 and second arm234 can extend from the top wall 230. The first arm 232 extends at anacute angle from the top wall 230 toward the second arm 234. The firstarm 232 of the second connector 214 can include an outer wall 236extending from a bottom side 203 of the elongate rod 200. An internalengagement wall 238 can be formed on the other side of the first arm232. The acute angle of the engagement wall 238 forms an acute lockingradius 239 between the top wall 230 and the first arm 232.

The second arm 234 of the second connector 114 includes an outer sidewall 242 generally extending orthogonally from an engagement surface 240of the top wall 230 proximate the bottom side 203 of the rod 200. Anengagement surface 244 of the second arm 234 is generally formed in anorthogonal direction from the elongate rod 200. The angle may vary fromthe orthogonal position in other embodiments. The opposing engagementsurfaces 238, 244 of the first and second arms 232, 234 provide aconnecting or engagement means for attaching the positioning tool 110 tothe seat connector bar 120. In operation the second connector 114 of thepositioning tool 110 is attached to the connector bar 120 at an incidentangle sufficient to permit the angled first arm 232 to slide around alower ledge 121 of the connector bar 120 (see FIG. 3 ). The incidentangle of the angled wall 238 permits the first arm 232 of the secondconnector 114 to slide under the lower ledge 121 of the connector bar120 when the first connector 112 is held above the support rail 22. Thesecond connector 114 is pivoted or rotated about the connector bar 120as the first connector 112 is lowered in a substantially verticaldirection to clamp down over the support rail 22. The angled engagementwall 238 of the second connector 114 will be removably locked under thelower ledge 121 (see FIG. 3 ) of the seat connector bar 120 and thusprevent the second connector 114 from being removed from the seatconnector bar 120 unless the handle 220 is lifted upward to provide theproper angle for removal of the second connector 114. The positioningtool 110 cannot be inadvertently be removed from the support rail 22 andthe seat bottom 32, therefore the seat bottom will remain in a secondposition until the positioning tool 110 is intentionally disconnectedfrom the support rail 22 and the seat bottom 32.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 , the positioning tool 110 can be used tomaneuver and lock or unlock the seat 14 to a support rail 22. Anoperator can grip the positioning tool 110 with one hand 300 and attachthe second connector 114 to the seat connector bar 120 and raise orlower the seat 14 when maneuvering the seat between the first position(seating position) and the second position (wall for cargo bay). Whenthe handle 220 is depressed by “squeezing” the second portion 224 (seeFIG. 8 ), the second extension arm 210 deflects apart from the firstextension arm 206 at an angle away from an outer sidewall 275 of thesupport rail 22 as one skilled in the art would readily understand. Whenthe second extension arm 210 is deflected the second lip 216 isdisplaced such that it can be attached or removed to/from an underside277 of the support rail 22 depending on whether the seat 14 is beingmoved to the first or second positions.

In one aspect the present disclosure includes a utility vehiclecomprising: a pivotable seat connected by a hinge to a fixed platform,the seat configured to pivot between a first position and a secondposition, the first position defining a standard seat location and asecond position defining a first wall of a cargo bay; a seatbackconfigured to form a second wall of a cargo bay when the pivotable seatis in the second position; and first and second opposing side wallspositioned on either side of the pivotable seat, the side wallsconfigured to form side barriers for the cargo bay when the pivotableseat is in the second position.

In refining aspects the pivotable seat includes a seat cushion on afirst side and an impact resistant material on a second side; whereinthe platform includes an outer surface made from impact resistantmaterial; wherein the side walls are defined by a rail member having anopen interior region configured to form an arm rest at opposing ends ofthe pivotable seat; further comprising a removable panel connected toeach of the rail members to form a barrier across the open interiorregion; wherein the panel includes a plurality of sub-panels; whereinthe sub-panels include tongue and groove connectors configured toconnect the sub-panels together; further comprising one or more bracketsconfigured to connect the panel to the rail; further comprising apositioning device connectable to a support rail and the pivotable seat,the positioning device configured to hold the pivotable seat in thesecond position; wherein the positioning device includes an elongate rodhaving first and second connectors extending from either end; whereinthe first connector includes first and second arms projecting inparallel away from the rod, the first and second arms of the firstconnector being configured to engage with a portion of the support railand include a lip projecting inward at a distal end of each arm toextend partially across a bottom portion of the support rail; andwherein the second connector includes first and second arms configuredto engage with a seat connector bar, wherein at least one of the firstand second arms projects away from the rod at an oblique angle.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a method forconverting a seating area to a cargo bay in a personal transportationvehicle, the method comprising: connecting a seat bottom to a platformvia a hinge; pivoting the seat bottom about the hinge such that a bottomwall of the seat bottom is angularly displaced from the platform;forming one wall of the cargo bay with the angularly displaced seatbottom; forming an opposing wall of the cargo bay with the seat back;and forming opposing side walls of the cargo bay with a pair of siderestraints connected between the seat bottom and the seat back.

In refining aspects, the method further comprises connecting a panel toeach of the side restraints; latching the seat bottom to a fixed memberof the vehicle to hold the seat bottom in the angularly displacedposition; wherein the latching includes sliding a pair of arms extendingfrom either end of an elongate rod over portions of the fixed member anda seat connector bar.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes: a chassis having amotive source, a steering mechanism and a plurality of wheels; a seathaving a movable seat bottom and a seat back connected to the chassis; astationary rail extending from the chassis; a cargo bay formed by movingthe seat bottom from a substantially horizontal position to a secondposition, wherein in the second position the seat bottom defines onewall of the cargo bay and the seat back defines an opposing wall of thecargo bay: and first and second side restraints extending between theseat back and the seat bottom along opposing sides of the cargo bay.

In refining aspects, the side restraints include detachable panelsstructured to form barriers at the first and second sides of the cargobay; wherein the second position is substantially vertical; furthercomprising a positioning device connected between the stationary railand the seat bottom to hold the seat bottom in the second position;wherein the positioning device is defined by an elongate rod havingfirst and second connectors extending from either end thereof, each ofthe first and second connectors includes a pair of arms spaced apartfrom one another and configured to engage portions of the stationaryrail and a connector bar associated with the seat bottom, respectively.

In another aspect of the present disclosure includes a positioning toolfor a positioning a seat on a utility vehicle comprising: an elongaterod having first and second connectors extending from opposing endsthereof; wherein the first connector includes a first pair of armshaving first and second lips projecting toward one another at distalends thereof, the first pair of arms spaced apart from one another andconfigured to engage portions of a support; wherein the second connectorincludes a second pair of arms spaced apart from one another andconfigured to engage portions of the seat, at least one of the secondpair of arms extending at an oblique angle from the elongate rod; and ahandle attached to the elongate rod proximate the first end, the handleoperable to deflect the first pair of arms apart from one another whendepressed toward the elongate rod.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and thatall changes and modifications that come within the spirit of theinventions are desired to be protected. It should be understood thatwhile the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or morepreferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature sodescribed may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary andembodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope ofthe invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. Inreading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,”“at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intentionto limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to thecontrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “aportion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire itemunless specifically stated to the contrary.

Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,”“supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly andencompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, andcouplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted tophysical or mechanical connections or couplings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal utility vehicle comprising: a chassishaving a motive source, a steering mechanism, and a plurality of wheels;and a seat having a pivotable seat bottom pivotably attached to aplatform supported by the chassis and a fixed seat back connected to thechassis, wherein the pivotable seat bottom is pivotable with respect tothe fixed seat back and the platform, from a first position in which thepivotable seat bottom cooperates with the fixed seat back to define aseating area, to a second position in which the pivotable seat bottomdefines one wall of a cargo bay, the seat back defines an opposing wallof the cargo bay, and the platform defines a closed bottom surface ofthe cargo bay extending between the one wall defined by the pivotableseat bottom and the opposing wall defined by the seat back, wherein theplatform includes a movable portion bounded by an outer fixed portionpositioned around the movable portion.
 2. The utility vehicle of claim1, wherein the pivotable seat bottom includes a seat cushion on a firstside and an impact resistant material on a second side, the first sidebeing exposed when the pivotable seat bottom is in the first positionand the second side defining an interior wall of the cargo bay when thepivotable seat bottom is in the second position.
 3. The utility vehicleof claim 1, wherein the fixed seat back includes a seat cushion andremains in the same position to define the seating area and the cargobay, so that the seat cushion defines the seating area when thepivotable seat bottom is in the first position and an interior wall ofthe cargo bay when the pivotable seat bottom is in the second position.4. The utility vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: first and secondside restraints that extend between the seat back and the pivotable seatbottom along opposing sides of the cargo bay when the pivotable seatbottom is in the second position.
 5. The utility vehicle of claim 1,wherein the pivotable seat bottom is removably securable in the firstposition, the second position, or both.
 6. The utility vehicle of claim1, further comprising: a lower cargo region disposed beneath the cargobay that is accessible by moving the movable portion of the platformwhen the pivotable seat bottom is in the second position.
 7. A personalutility vehicle, comprising: a chassis having a motive source, asteering mechanism, and a plurality of wheels; a seat having a pivotableseat bottom pivotably attached to a platform supported by the chassisand a fixed seat back connected to the chassis, wherein the pivotableseat bottom is pivotable with respect to the fixed seat back and theplatform, from a first position in which the pivotable seat bottomcooperates with the fixed seat back to define a seating area, to asecond position in which the pivotable seat bottom defines one wall of acargo bay, the seat back defines an opposing wall of the cargo bay, andthe platform defines a closed bottom surface of the cargo bay extendingbetween the one wall defined by the pivotable seat bottom and theopposing wall defined by the seat back; and a support rail connected tothe chassis, wherein when the pivotable seat bottom is in the firstposition, the fixed seat back is positioned proximate one edge of thepivotable seat bottom and the support rail is positioned proximate anopposite edge of the pivotable seat bottom, so that the pivotable seatbottom pivots towards the support rail when moving from the firstposition to the second position.
 8. The utility vehicle of claim 7,wherein the pivotable seat bottom is removably securable to the supportrail when in the second position to secure the pivotable seat bottom inthe second position.
 9. The utility vehicle of claim 8, furthercomprising: a positioning device connectable to the support rail and thepivotable seat bottom to secure the pivotable seat bottom in the secondposition.
 10. The utility vehicle of claim 7, wherein the platformincludes a movable portion bounded by an outer fixed portion positionedaround the movable portion.
 11. A utility vehicle comprising: apivotable seat connected by a hinge to a fixed platform, the pivotableseat configured to pivot between a first position and a second position,the first position defining a standard seat location and a secondposition defining a first wall of a cargo bay; a seat back configured toform a second wall of the cargo bay when the pivotable seat is in thesecond position, wherein the seat back remains in the same position todefine the standard seat location and the cargo bay; and first andsecond opposing side walls positioned on either side of the pivotableseat, the side walls configured to form side barriers for the cargo baywhen the pivotable seat is in the second position, wherein the first andsecond opposing side walls are each defined by a rail member having anopen interior region.
 12. The utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein thepivotable seat includes a seat cushion on a first side and an impactresistant material on a second side.
 13. The utility vehicle of claim12, wherein the fixed platform includes an outer surface made fromimpact resistant material.
 14. The utility vehicle of claim 11, furthercomprising: a support rail connected to the fixed platform, wherein thepivotable seat is removably securable to the support rail when in thesecond position to secure the pivotable seat in the second position. 15.The utility vehicle of claim 14, wherein the pivotable seat includes aseat connector bar that is connectable to the support rail to removablysecure the pivotable seat in the second position.
 16. The utilityvehicle of claim 11, wherein the fixed platform includes a movableportion bounded by an outer fixed portion positioned around the movableportion.
 17. A personal utility vehicle comprising: a chassis having amotive source, a steering mechanism and a plurality of wheels; a seathaving a movable seat bottom and a seat back connected to the chassis; astationary rail extending from the chassis; a cargo bay formed by movingthe seat bottom from a substantially horizontal position to a secondposition, wherein in the second position the seat bottom defines onewall of the cargo bay and the seat back defines an opposing wall of thecargo bay, wherein the seat back need not move to convert the seat tothe cargo bay; and first and second side restraints extending betweenthe seat back and the seat bottom along opposing sides of the cargo bay.18. The utility vehicle of claim 17, wherein the side restraintscomprise rail members structured to form at least partial barriers atthe first and second sides of the cargo bay.
 19. The utility vehicle ofclaim 17, wherein the second position is substantially vertical.
 20. Theutility vehicle of claim 17, further comprising: a positioning devicethat is connectable between the stationary rail and the seat bottom tosecure the seat bottom in the second position.